A former RAF Air Vice-Marshal has described the proposed Satellite Protection Squadron as big on ambition but short on funding.
Speaking on GB News, Sean Bell said: “The reality is, this is very big on ambition, very short on funding and detail at the moment. There are three space outfits being formed. This first one is space operations: what’s going on in space.
“The second one is space warning, in other words, finding theirs; are there any threats out there? And the third one has just been formed: this space effects squadron.
“So, in effect, you’ve got this information. You’ve got the bad guys doing bad things. What are you going to do about it? And unfortunately, at the moment, the cost of doing anything about it is eye-watering.
“It was only earlier this week that America admitted that it’s got weapons in space and that caused a furore, even though for many decades, almost certainly there have been weapons in space, it’s just the Americans breaking cover and gone, we know the Chinese are messing around in space. We know that the Russians are actually. Therefore, the U.S. has made a declaration.
“I think all that we’re doing here is that the UK Air and Space Command is going, we need to play a part in this. [They’re] big on ambition, but frankly, there’s not very much funding behind it as yet.
“I think one of the problems I think is they’ve called them squadrons, and they call it one, two, and three squadron. Well, veterans like me, grey-haired, gnarly old folk, I was the boss of number one squadron. It’s a fighter squadron. It now flies Typhoons. So why do you double count it?
“But in terms of numbers, my understanding is less than 10 people are going to actually be serving on this outfit initially. But I think part of it is going, the ambition for the UK, it is all very well observing this stuff going on, what are we going to do about it?
“And there are a range of things. Kinetic action, but frankly, that creates a real mess in space. What’s more likely is you want to be able to do electronic warfare, jamming, get close to other satellites, listening in, and if necessary, grab them or do something to intimidate them.”
